Hydrangea plant named ‘SCHROLL122-11-01a’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘SCHROLL122-11-01a’, characterized by its compact, upright and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit and strong stems; dark green-colored leaves; mophead-type inflorescences with light red purple-colored sterile flowers; when “blued”, that is, treated with aluminum sulfate, sterile flowers are violet blue in color; long flowering period; and good postproduction quality and longevity.

Botanical designation: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SCHROLL122-11-01a’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant, botanically known as Hydrangea macrophylla and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘SCHROLL122-11-01a’.

The new Hydrangea plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Aarslev, Denmark. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new container-type Hydrangea plants with strong stems, early flowering response and attractive leaf and flower coloration.

The new Hydrangea plant originated from a cross-pollination during the spring of 2011 of a proprietary selection of Hydrangea macrophylla identified as code designation Schroll080108, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Hydrangea macrophylla identified as code number 32-00, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hydrangea plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor during the spring of 2013 as a flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Aarslev, Denmark.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by softwood cuttings in Aarslev, Denmark since the spring of 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Hydrangea plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘SCHROLL122-11-01a’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘SCHROLL122-11-01a’ as a new and distinct Hydrangea plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit and strong stems.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Mophead-type inflorescences with light red purple-colored         sterile flowers; when “blued”, that is, treated with aluminum         sulfate, sterile flowers are violet blue in color.     -   6. Long flowering period.     -   7. Good postproduction quality and longevity.

Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of the female selection parent in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more compact than and not as         vigorous as plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more freely branching than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Inflorescences of plants of the new Hydrangea are smaller         than inflorescences of plants of the female parent selection.     -   4. Plants of the new Hydrangea and the female parent selection         differ in sterile flower color as sterile flowers of plants of         the new Hydrangea are darker in color than plants of the female         parent selection.

Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of the male selection parent in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more compact than and not as         vigorous as plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more freely branching and         have stronger lateral branches than plants of the male parent         selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Hydrangea and the male parent selection         differ in sterile flower color as sterile flowers of plants of         the new Hydrangea are lighter in color than plants of the male         parent selection.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of Hydrangea macrophylla ‘H213901’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,221. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘H213901’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more compact than and not as         vigorous as plants of ‘H213901’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more freely branching than         plants of ‘H213901’.     -   3. Inflorescences of plants of the new Hydrangea are smaller         than inflorescences of plants of ‘H213901’.     -   4. Sepals of sterile flowers of the new Hydrangea are not as         undulate as sepals of sterile flowers of ‘H213901’.     -   5. Plants of the new Hydrangea and ‘H213901’ differ in sterile         flower color as sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea         are lighter in color than sterile flowers of plants of         ‘H213901’.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of Hydrangea macrophylla ‘H213906’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,509. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘H213906’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are stronger and more sturdy than         plants of ‘H213906’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more freely branching than         plants of ‘H213906’.     -   3. Plants of the new Hydrangea force slightly faster than plants         of ‘H213906’.     -   4. Plants of the new Hydrangea and ‘H213906’ differ in sterile         flower color as sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea         are lighter in color than sterile flowers of plants of         ‘H213906’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance of the new Hydrangea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hydrangea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 3) comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘SCHROLL122-11-01a’ grown in a container that has not been “blued”.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 3) is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘SCHROLL122-11-01a’ that has not been “blued”.

The photograph on the third sheet (FIG. 3 of 3) is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘SCHROLL122-11-01a’ that has been “blued”.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the following description were grown during the late winter in 13-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Aarslev, Denmark and under cultural practices typical of commercial Hydrangea production. Plants of the new Hydrangea were pinched two times and were one year old when the photographs and description were taken. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 25° C. and night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 20° C. and light levels ranged from 40 to 50 klux. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘SCHROLL122-11-01a’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea             macrophylla identified as code designation Schroll080108,             not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea             macrophylla identified as code number 32-00, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—By softwood cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 14 to 15 days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 20 days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 18° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About five             weeks at temperatures about 18° C. to 20° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white, close             to N155D, in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Perennial subshrub; compact, upright             and mounded plant habit; broadly inverted triangle; freely             branching habit with about six to eight lateral branches             developing per plant; strong lateral branches; moderately             vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 25 cm.         -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 35 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 9 cm to 12 cm. Diameter:             About 4 mm to 6 mm. Internode length: About 3 cm to 5 cm.             Strength: Strong, sturdy. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             developing and developed: Close to 144A. Color, lenticels:             Close to N199B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, decussate; simple.         -   Length.—About 8 cm to 10 cm.         -   Width.—About 5.5 cm to 6.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute to cuspidate.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth to rugose, glabrous.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Rugose, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,             close to 145C to 145D. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface:             Close to 137D; venation, close to 145C to 145D.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 2 cm to 3 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm             to 4 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to             144A. Color, lower surface: Close to 144B. -   Inflorescence & flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Showy single sterile and             inconspicuous single fertile flowers arranged on terminal             mophead-type panicles; panicles globular to almost spherical             in overall shape; fertile flowers face upright to outwardly             and sterile flowers face mostly upright to outwardly             depending on their position on the inflorescence; early             flowering habit, plants begin flowering about eight to ten             weeks after forcing period.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period, continuous             flowering from the late summer (July/August) until frost in             Northern Europe.         -   Flower longevity, fertile flowers.—Flowers last about one             month on the plant; fertile flowers not persistent.         -   Flower longevity, sterile flowers.—Flowers last about two             months on the plant; sterile flowers persistent.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit with about 50             fertile flowers and about 60 sterile flowers per panicle.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Panicle height.—About 6 cm to 7 cm.         -   Panicle diameter.—About 12 cm to 15 cm.         -   Flower diameter, fertile flowers.—About 3 mm to 4 mm.         -   Flower depth (height), fertile flowers.—About 2 mm to 3 mm.         -   Flower diameter, sterile flowers.—About 5 cm.         -   Flower depth (height), sterile flowers.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Flower shape, fertile flowers.—Spherical.         -   Flower shape, sterile flowers.—Rounded.         -   Flower buds, fertile flowers.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter:             About 3 mm. Shape: Spherical. Color: Close to 36D.         -   Flower buds, sterile flowers.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter:             About 3 mm. Shape: Spherical. Color: Close to 2C.         -   Petals, fertile flowers.—To date, petal development on             fertile flowers has not been observed on plants of the new             Hydrangea.         -   Petals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four in a             single whorl. Length: About 3.2 mm. Width: About 2 mm.             Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Rounded. Base: Rounded to truncate.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 62D; when “blued”, close to 62D. Fully opened,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 155D; when “blued”, close             to 155D; color does not change with development.         -   Sepals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: About             five in a single whorl. Length: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Width:             About 1 mm to 2 mm. Shape: Deltoid. Apex: Acute. Base:             Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to NN155B; when “blued”, close to 145D.             Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155B;             when “blued”, close to 145D; color becoming closer to 62C             with development.         -   Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four in a             single whorl. Length: About 2.5 cm. Width: About 3.5 cm.             Shape: Deltoid to ovate. Apex: Retuse. Base: Broadly             cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Color, plants not “blued”: When opening,             upper and lower surfaces: Initially, close to 145C becoming             closer to 155B with development; towards the apex, close to             N66D. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to N66D;             color does not change with development. Color, plants             “blued”: When opening, upper surface: Close to 68B. When             opening, lower surface: Close to 155A. Fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 94B; towards the base, close to N81B.             Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 94B.         -   Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Length: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm.             Diameter: About 1 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly             upright. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 63C.         -   Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter:             About 1.5 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 10° to 90°             from vertical depending on position in the panicle. Texture:             Pubescent. Color, plants not “blued”: Close to 157B. Color,             plants “blued”: Close to 150C.         -   Reproductive organs, fertile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per             flower: About eight. Filament length: About 3 mm to 4 mm.             Filament color: Close to NN155B. Anther length: About 1 mm.             Anther shape: Ovate. Anther color: Close to NN155B. Pollen             amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to NN155B. Pistils:             Pistil quantity per flower: About three or four. Pistil             length: Less than 1 mm. Stigma shape: Oval. Stigma color:             Close to NN155B. Style length: Less than 1 mm. Style color:             Close to NN155B. Ovary color: Close to NN155B.         -   Reproductive organs, sterile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per             flower: About eight to ten. Filament length: About 2 mm to             3 mm. Filament color: Close to 155D. Anther length: About             1 mm. Anther shape: Ovate. Anther color: Close to 155D.             Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 150D. Pistils:             Pistil quantity per flower: If present, about three. Pistil             length: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Stigma shape: Three-lobed.             Stigma color: Close to 157C. Style length: About 1 mm to             2 mm. Style color: Close to 157C. Ovary color: Close to             N144C.         -   Seeds.—To date, seed development has not been observed on             plants of the new Hydrangea. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Hydrangea     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Hydrangea plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been shown     to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 3° C. to 38° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘SCHROLL122-11-01a’ as illustrated and described. 